title: p53-independent down-regulation of cyclin D1 and p21Waf1 in the process of immortalization of human esophageal epithelial cells.
abstract: Immortalization is considered to be an initial critical step in the process of multistage cell transformation. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this event are not well understood. Our laboratory previously established the immortalized human esophageal epithelial cell line, HET-1A, by SV40 T-antigen transfection. In the present study, we investigated the role of G1 cyclins and cyclin dependent kinase inhibitors, in the process of immortalization. By using immunoprecipitation and Western blot analysis, sequential changes in the expression of both cyclin D1 and p21Waf1 were detected during the conversion of precrisis esophageal epithelial cells to immortalized HET-1A cells. Reduced expression levels of both cyclin D1 and p21Waf1 were found in early passage and late passage immortalized cells when compared to levels in precrisis cells. In addition, continued subculture of the immortalized cells led to increased expression levels of both cyclin D1 and p21Waf1. No significant changes in the expression of either cyclin E or p53 were observed in early or late passage immortalized cells when compared to precrisis cells. These results suggest that changes in the expression levels of cyclin D1 and p21Waf1, but not cyclin E, may be important for immortalization and continued propagation of human esophageal epithelial cells, and these changes are not dependent on regulation by p53.
authors.affiliation: Division of Environmental Health Sciences, The Ohio State University School of Public Health, and The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, CHRI Suite 1148, Columbus, OH 43210-1240, USA.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Spillare
authors.forename: Q S
authors.initials: QS
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.lastname: Sabourin CLK
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Stoner
mesh_terms: D000952:Antigens, Polyomavirus Transforming; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002453:Cell Cycle; D002460:Cell Line; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D019938:Cyclin D1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D019927:Cyclin E / Q000378:metabolism; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D016213:Cyclins / Q000378:metabolism*; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D004947:Esophagus / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D011233:Precipitin Tests; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000952:Antigens, Polyomavirus Transforming; C493956:CDKN1A protein, human; D019927:Cyclin E; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D016213:Cyclins; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D019938:Cyclin D1